Florida Gators coach Jim McElwain needs to start by suspending star wide receiver Antonio Callaway for the monumental season opener against Michigan and then see how he responds.

Callaway is literally and figuratively traveling down a bad road, and it’s time for McElwain and UF’s administration to put a stop to it.

Callaway was cited for misdemeanor marijuana possession early Saturday morning in Gainesville, which, on the surface, seems like a relatively minor offense. However, at the time Callaway was a passenger in a black Mercedes SUV driven by 40-year-old Kendrick Williams, who has a rap sheet longer than “War and Peace.” Williams has been arrested more than a dozen times on charges such as battery, cocaine possession, drug trafficking, grand theft, and lewd and lascivious behavior with a child 12 to 16 years of age.

First things first: Why in the world is Florida’s star football player hanging out with a 40-year-old career criminal? Secondly, do you want such a reckless player with obvious character issues representing your program?

Let’s not forget Callaway is the same player who was suspended last spring amid sexual-battery allegations. He was eventually cleared during a Title IX hearing held by UF. During that hearing, Callaway testified that he couldn’t have sexually assaulted the woman because at the time of the alleged assault he was “so stoned [on marijuana] I had no interest in having sex with anyone.”

Obviously, Callaway has marijuana issues — not to mention eligibility issues. It seems only logical — based on the marijuana admission during the Title IX hearing and his most recent marijuana arrest — that Callaway has violated the spirit of UF’s substance-abuse policy. That policy calls for a player to be suspended for a second failed drug test. Is there really a difference between failing two marijuana tests and getting arrested once for marijuana while admitting another time in a public hearing that you were stoned out of your gourd?

Not only that, but McElwain has doled out one-game suspensions to two players in the past who were cited for marijuana: reserve tailbacks Jordan Scarlett and Mark Thompson. It would send an awful message to the rest of the team if he doesn’t hand out the same punishment to his star player.

The bottom line is this:

If coach McElwain, as he says, really wants to use this as a teaching moment, then he will suspend his star player for the Michigan game so Callaway will understand his football career is on the verge of going up in smoke.

SHORT STUFF: Did you see where Tacko Fall worked out for the Magic earlier this week? Does this mean he’s now been on the court for two college teams in Orlando? … But, seriously, the only way Tacko should make himself available for the NBA draft is if he is sure to be a first-round draft pick. If not, he would be making a huge financial mistake. If he comes back to UCF next season and improves as much as he did this season, he could be a lottery pick next year. … And with the No. 6 pick in the 2017 NBA draft, the Orlando Magic take — (drum roll, please) — anybody whose father isn’t a loud, obnoxious, carnival-barking laughingstock. I love my boy David Whitley, but his Sentinel column earlier this week about how the Magic should try to draft Lonzo Ball (and his insufferable father LaVar Ball) was sheer insanity. Just what the Magic need — another player who already has stated that he dreams of being a Laker someday. No, thank you! …

ACC commissioner John Swofford says the financial woes at ESPN will not affect the Worldwide Leader’s promise of launching an ACC Network in 2019. What Swofford isn’t saying, though, is this: “Anybody can launch a network; the problem is getting cable companies to buy it and put it on their systems.” … Question: Why did Magic coach Frank Vogel wear a playoff beard to the draft lottery? … TomBrady's wife, Gisele Bundchen, says the New England Patriots quarterback has a history of concussions but yet the Patriots have never — in 17 years — listed him on their injury report for having suffered even a migraine. Deflating Brady’s balls? Let’s hope that the biggest scandal in New England history doesn’t turn out to be deflating Brady’s brain. … Three things more exciting and intriguing than this year’s NBA playoffs: (1) Rice cakes; (2) Waiting for a YouTube video to buffer; (3) Company meetings.

LASTWORD: I guess we shouldn’t be surprised that new FAU coach Lane Kiffin has offered a scholarship to a 7th-grader. The question is, who is more mature: the player who just turned 13 or the coach who perpetually acts like he’s 13?

Open Mike

Don't forget, you can click on OrlandoSentinel.com and read the wildly popular Open Mike blog and interactive extravaganza to get my freshest takes on what's happening in the world of sports. Here's an excerpt from a blog about a potential candidate to become the Magic’s new general manager:

The common perception is the Orlando Magic have targeted LeBronJames’ sock puppet to be their new general manager.

And you know what? I have no problem with that.

LeBron’s perceived puppet — aka Cleveland Cavaliers GM David Griffin — at least has been graced by the King’s presence.

The Magic could do a lot worse than hiring Griffin. In fact, they have (see Rob Hennigan and John Weisbrod). Even if everybody knows LeBron is the true GM of the Cavs, so what? A case could be made that Griffin, because of his ties to LeBron over the years, has established strong relationships with many of the big-name players and agents in the NBA. They, at least, know who he is.

The reason we bring this up is because the Magic reportedly have asked permission of the Cavaliers to interview Griffin, according to NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski. However, according to Wojnarowski’s report, the Magic have not gotten a response from Cavs owner Dan Gilbert.

Nor should they have.

Last I checked, the Cavaliers are trying to win another championship and certainly don’t want anything distracting them from this goal. That’s why I would be surprised if the Magic have actually made official contact.

This sounds a lot like Griffin, whose contract with the Cavs expires next month, is trying to use the Magic as leverage to get a more lucrative deal in Cleveland.

The fact that the Cavs are leaving Griffin to twist in the wind speaks volumes as to how important they think he is to the franchise. Considering LeBron is the real choreographer of Cleveland’s championship team, it appears Gilbert believes his acting GM has minimal value.

This may be true — in Cleveland.

But in Orlando, Griffin could have significant value.

He, at least, has a championship résumé and is a recognizable name to players and agents across the league. He might be able to open doors that other lesser-known GM candidates could not.

And even though LeBron is the reason the Cavs are defending NBA champions, Griffin has been the facilitator. He’s the man who crunched the numbers, made the deals and worked the cap to put complementary pieces around the King.

The bottom line is this: With the lottery now over and the draft on June 22, it’s imperative the Magic hire somebody soon.

In Cleveland, Griffin may be considered to be LeBron’s sock puppet.

In Orlando, he could walk in his own shoes.

Mail bonding

Most interesting reader retorts, radio rabble, tangy tweets and message-board mockery of the week:

On who the Magic will take at No. 6 based on their past draft history: “The Magic select Gustav Picklebritches from Belgian Congo.”

On the Magic’s draft history: “Why is it that the only time we know who to draft is when we pick No. 1?”

On Tacko Fall perhaps being drafted by the Magic: “Why would he want to go the second-best basketball team in town?”

Notable quotables

In honor of today’s Armed Forces Day, three of my favorite quotes about the military:

“We sleep safely at night because rough men stand ready to visit violence on those who would harm us.” — Winston Churchill

“Live for something rather than die for nothing.” — George S. Patton

“Whoever said the pen is mightier than the sword obviously never encountered automatic weapons.” — Douglas MacArthur

Email me at mbianchi@orlandosentinel.com. Hit me up on Twitter @BianchiWrites and listen to my Open Mike radio show every weekday from 6 to 9 a.m. on FM 96.9 and AM 740.

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College football insider Matt Murschel breaks down the reasons fewer college coaches staying in their jobs for decades.

College football insider Matt Murschel breaks down the reasons fewer college coaches staying in their jobs for decades.

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College football insider Matt Murschel breaks down the reasons fewer college coaches staying in their jobs for decades.

College football insider Matt Murschel breaks down the reasons fewer college coaches staying in their jobs for decades.

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Harvick lashed out at Earnhardt last week, for having the gall to be Mr. Popularity.

Harvick lashed out at Earnhardt last week, for having the gall to be Mr. Popularity.

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Orlando City defender Tommy Redding and midfielder Antonio Nocerino worked together after training this week to prepare for Saturday's match against the Columbus Crew, later spoke about importance of team channeling frustration to 'change the moment.'

Orlando City defender Tommy Redding and midfielder Antonio Nocerino worked together after training this week to prepare for Saturday's match against the Columbus Crew, later spoke about importance of team channeling frustration to 'change the moment.'